Survey of Laws and Regulations of Airport Commercial Ground Transportation (2008)

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158 WASHINGTON Statewide Regulations The State of Washington generally regulates motor vehicles operating within the state. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 46.01-98 (LexisNexis 2007). For more information, visit the Washington DOT Web site at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov. Municipalities that control airports also have exclusive control to regulate activity on the airport grounds. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 14.08.330 (LexisNexis 2007). Case History The Port of Seattle sued the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission over who had authority to regulate passenger carrier rates. The court held that a ground transportation service, which is not a part of interstate commerce and which serves an airport operated by a port district, is subject to regulation by the Utilities and Transportation Commission. Port of Seattle v. Washington Utils. and Transp. Comm’n, 92 Wash. 2d 789, 597 P.2d 383 (1979). Washington—Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) Overview Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is owned and operated by the Port of Seattle, a municipal corporation, organized under the statutory authority of the State of Washington. SEA is a semi-closed system. Local Airport Regulations Cited as: Rules Regs. § x (2002). Airport Agreement No Ground Service Operator shall provide services on the Airport without first having executed a Ground Service Operator Licensing Application and Agreement in form and content approved by the Director, providing documentation of a current insurance policy meeting the Airport's specifications and having paid the appropriate fees and/or charges as provided in said Ground Service Operator Licensing Application and Agreement. Rules and Regs. § 4(b)(6) (2007). Vehicles must comply with airport rules for loading and unloading passengers. Rules and Regs. § 4(f)(5) (2007). Limousine Drivers must hold a King County license. Rules

159 and Regs. § 4(f)(2) (2007). Taxicabs The airport provides rules for taxicab operation and driver conduct. Rules and Regs. § 4(f)(5) (2007). Enforcement and Appeals Cited drivers or operators will receive notice of violation and punishment according to the Sea- Tax Int’l Schedule of Rules and Regs. § 8(a) (2007). Vehicles may be impounded according to Rules and Regs. § 8(f) (2007). Administrative appeals of punishments will be promptly heard by the Landside Operations Manager or assignees. Rules and Regs. § 8(d)(4) (2007). City, County, and Port Regulations There is an agreement between the City of Seattle, King County, and the Port of Seattle to regulate taxicabs under a common set of rules. King County, Wash., Code ch. 6.64 § 015 (2007). Cited as: County Code ch. 6.14 § x (2007). License Requirements All drivers, vehicles, and operators must maintain required licenses, documents, and certificates. King County, Wash., Code ch. 6.64 § 300-700 (2007). License fees and standards will vary depending on the privileges sought. Id. County Oversight Operators must make regular operations reports. King County, Wash., Code ch. 6.64 § 700-900 (2007). The county sets fares, imposes penalties for rule infractions, and maintains a consumer complaint hotline. Id. Federal Jurisdiction Vehicles carrying passengers with immediate prior or subsequent movement by air and staying within a 25-mi radius of SEA are exempt from FMCSA regulations. 49 C.F.R. § 372.117 (2007). Transportation within the municipal limits of the commercial zone surrounding Seattle is exempt. 49 U.S.C.S. § 13506 (2007). The zone is defined as follows: (a) The municipality of Seattle itself. (b) All points within a line drawn 5 miles beyond the municipal limits of Seattle, except points on Bainbridge Island, Vashon Island, and Blake Island.

160 (c) All points more than 5 miles beyond the municipal limits of Seattle (1) within a line as follows: Beginning at that point south of Seattle where the eastern shore of Puget Sound intersects the line described in paragraph (b) of this section, thence southerly along the eastern shore of Puget Sound to Southwest 192d Street, thence easterly along Southwest 192d Street to the point where it again intersects the line described in paragraph (b) of this section; and (2) within a line as follows: Beginning at the junction of the southern corporate limits of Kent, Wash., and Washington Highway 181, and extending south along Washington Highway 181 to the northern corporate limits of Auburn, Wash., thence along the western, southern, and eastern corporate limits of Auburn to the junction of the northern corporate limits of Auburn and Washington Highway 167, thence northerly along Washington Highway 167 to its junction with the southern corporate limits of Kent, Wash., including all points on the highways named. (d) All points more than 5 miles beyond the municipal limits of Seattle within a line as follows: Beginning at the junction of the northern corporate limits of Lynwook, Wash., and U.S. Highway 99, thence north along U.S. Highway 99 to its junction with Washington Highway 525, thence along Washington Highway 525 to its junction with West Casino Road, thence east along West Casino Road to the western boundary of the Everett facilities of the Boeing Co. at or near 4th Avenue West, thence along the western, northern and eastern boundaries of the facilities of the Boeing Co. to West Casino Road, thence east along West Casino Road to its junction with U.S. Highway 99, thence south along U.S. Highway 99 to 112th Street, thence easterly along 112th Street to its junction with Interstate Highway 5, thence southerly along Interstate Highway 5 to its intersection with the present zone limits, including all points on the named routes. (e) All of any municipality any part of which is within the limits set forth in (b) above. (f) All of any municipality wholly surrounded, or so surrounded except for a water boundary, by the city of Seattle or by any municipality included under the terms of (b) above. 49 C.F.R. 399 app. F (2007). Contact Information Port of Seattle HQ (206) 728-3000 Airport Information (206) 433-5388 Airport Police (206) 431-3490 Public Affairs (206) 431-4923 Landside Operations (206) 439-5176